FOOTBALL ROUND-UP: Bradford on the cusp of First Division title

BRADFORD Town could be crowned champions of the Toolstation League First Division tomorrow night.

Paul Shanley’s league leaders need to pick up a just a point at Chard Town tomorrow evening to seal the title but they could also secure top spot if second-placed Shepton Mallet fail to beat Corsham Town.

Bradford drew 1-1 at Wellington last weekend, with Dan Fowler on target, but challengers Shepton were also held to a 1-1 stalemate by third-placed Welton Rovers.

Meanwhile, Westbury United slipped to a third straight defeat as they were beaten 2-0 at Keynsham Town.

The hosts created the first chances around 15 minutes in, with both Chris Lewis and Scott Brain failing to make a good enough connection from close range.

Keynsham then took the lead shortly afterwards with a flowing move, with Pat Davison playing the ball to Lewis, whose pass to Brain allowed the midfielder time to cross to the back post, where Davison arrived to open the scoring.

United had a few half-chances, with Kyle Box’s cross finding Simon Millard, who was denied by home keeper Matt Dunk, before Charlie Walton tried a 25-yarder that Dunk easily claimed.

In a brief period of open play before half- time Rob Brown did excellently to deny Josh Rice after fine play by Davison, with Westbury then counter-attacking through Jake Herd, whose 30-yard effort was spilled by Dunk to Joe Moloney, but his attempt was blocked.

There was little action of note for most of the second half, with Town comfortably holding on to their lead while only having a few chances, although Dan Hurkett did have to get back to clear the danger when Rice seemed set to score whilst Brown saved well from Sam Roberts.

United wasted several attacking free kicks and corners and from one of them Keynsham launched a counter- attack which should have seen them go further ahead, but for a superb piece of defending by the impressive Ally Bradley to prevent Rice from scoring.

The same player then went close twice more in quick succession, inbetween which Moloney curled a 20-yarder wide at the other end.

Town sealed their victory on 83 minutes - Seb Spiller’s direct ball found Ben Stiff and he saw his goalbound effort cleared by Callum Cooper.

However, the resulting corner found its way to Stiff and he managed to scramble the ball over the line to complete the scoring.

Elsewhere, Tom Golledge’s goal proved to be little more than a consolation as Warminster Town were beaten 4-1 at Barnstaple Town.

In the Toolstation League Premier Division, Dan Sibley turned match-winner on his first Melksham Town start as his goal handed Darren Perrin’s men a 1-0 win at Ilfracombe Town.

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